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Rondel with the Goddess Hariti

ca. 1st century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 235
The goddess Hariti is shown nursing a child and sitting on a throne flanked by lotuses and surmounted by auspicious geese (hamsa), the Buddha’s messengers. Stylistically this roundel can be related to first-century finds from the Taxila city of Sirkap, a dating that would make it one of the earliest known representations of Hariti. Buddhist texts tell us that Hariti originally stole and devoured children, but with the Buddha’s intervention she became their protector.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Rondel with the Goddess Hariti
  • Date: ca. 1st century
  • Culture: Pakistan (ancient region of Gandhara)
  • Medium: Silver with gold foil
  • Dimensions: Diam. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm)
  • Classification: Metalwork
  • Credit Line: Gift of Steven Kossak, The Kronos Collections, 1981
  • Object Number: 1981.460.2
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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Pair of Ear Plugs with Hamsas (Wild Geese), Gold, Pakistan (ancient region of Gandhara)
Pair of Ear Plugs with Hamsas (Wild Geese)
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Hinged Armlet, Gold with the remains of a core of lac (resin) or mastic, Pakistan (ancient region of Gandahara, Sirkap)
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Pakistan (ancient region of Gandahara, Sirkap)
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